2 November, 2020
Holiday Hunger Project a huge success
Last week the YST partnered with the food charity, Wiggly Worm to provide hot, nutritious meals for young people and their families in the Cheltenham area that were affected by food poverty during half term.
The week was a huge success with:
- 319 meals produced over the week
- 269 meals delivered during the week
- 51 meals eaten in our Whaddon centre
- 71 contacts with 34 individual young people
It was all hands on deck with many of our practitioners, admin staff and managers getting involved either with food prep, cooking, packaging, serving and delivering to the young people and families who needed it. each meal came with a recipe sheet, which demonstrated how to replicate the meal in a cost effective way.
Alongside the food young people were able to use the centre as a safe space to hang out and to get involved in the various activities available including problem solving tasks, archery and safe fitness and sports activities.
Tim Oliver, Activites Team manager said,
Thanks for everything that everyone has done. It has made a tangible and real difference to families at risk over half term".
Kat Aukett, Operation Director said,
I am often inspired by the work that my team do but none more so than last week when the team pulled together to provide a hot meal, activities and support to young people and families experiencing difficulties during the half term. Balancing the needs to be safe during the pandemic with providing engaging activities and advice was challenging but as always the team rose to and exceeded expectations".
The YST has also arranged for over £2,000 of free Nando’s meals over the last three weeks to go to vulnerable families and care leavers.
Once our community heard what we were doing we received cash donations into the service which enabled us to provide breakfast provisions and deliver them to families in addition to the hot lunchtime meals. A further donation that we received will allow us to provide some shopping of essential items in this coming week.
It was an amazing week and we are extremely grateful to all the hardwork of everyone involved including staff from the Wiggly Worm who were central to the success. The last word must go to one of the families,
Just want to say thank you to you, Karon and everyone involved for all of the help you've provided to my family this week. Means more than you know please pass on my thanks to everyone.
We hope to build on this in the coming school holidays to ensure that families and young people in Gloucestershire can access support".